William mootry



, iiinTED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

WILLIAM MOOTRY, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

REFRIG-E-RATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 13,329, dated July 24, 1855.

To all whom it may concern.

VBe it known that I, WILLIAM Moo'rRY, of

the city, county, and State of New York,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Mode of Constructing Refrigerators, WaterCoolers, Ice-Boxes, Ivins-Chambers, and other Frigorific Apparatus, reference being had to the accompanying drawings as making part of this specification. A

Figure l, is a perspective view of what I call my improved combination refrigerator. Fig. 2, is a vertical section of the same out through at the line I Q Fig. 3.. Fig. 3, is a horizontal section of the same.

y A in Figs. 1 and 2, represents the interior of the refrigerator which is lined with zinc or other suitable material, fitted up with shelves and otherwise constructed in the usual manner.

The door B is constructed so as to open at the side, an arrangement which affords easier access to the interior.

C represents a box, or chamber or vessel for the Vreception of ice, having a lid or cover D, this vessel may be made of earthen ware, zinc, enameled iron or any other metal or material that will not impart an unwholesome character to the water that may be contained therein.

`E represents in Figs. l and 2 the upper lid or cover shutting over the whole apparatus.

F Fig. 2 represents a pipe connected with the bottom of thev ice box C, and leading therefrom to the cock G (in the manner indicated in said figure) for the purpose of carrying ofl the water generated by the melting of the ice, or the water that may be placed in the ice box, when the same is used as a water cooler as hereinafter mentioned. The cock Gr, and the pipe connected therewith, may be placed at the side, as shown in the drawings or at any other part of the apparatus as convenience may suggest.

H, H, Fig. 2 represents a hollow chamber extending around the sides and bottom of the ice box.

An inner top I, I, in which the ice box is inserted (as shown in Fig. l) is placed, a short distance below the edge of the outer casing of the apparatus, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to constitute a hollow chamber extending across the whole width of the apparatus, between the said inner top I, I, and

the upper lid or cover E. Holes are perforated through the sides of the outer case ing near the upper edge, and immediately below the upper lid E, as shown in Fig. l, and opening into the last described hollow chamber, as shown in the upper arrows in Fig. 2. Holes or perforations are also made in the inner top I, I, around the ice box, into the hollow chamber H, H, as shown in Fig. l, at each side of the ice box.

The roof or ceiling K, of the interior A, may be made of zinc, the same as the lining of the interior, and is so constructed as to leave a hollow space below the ice box which said space constitutes the lower portion of the hollow chamber H, H, as shown in Fig. 2. Holes or perforations are also made in the ceiling K immediately beneath the ice box, and an adjustable register J, opening and shutting at pleasure, is fixed on the inside of said ceiling, so as to be easily accessible by hand. The dotted holes in the center of Fig. 3, represent this register. The one at the center, represents the pivot on which this register turns. The register is equally effectual if applied to any of the other before described perforations. Holes or perforations are also made in the bottom of the refrigerator as seen at L in Fig. l, and L L in F ig. 2, opening to the outer air beneath. These holes may be placed in the sides near the bottom if desired or as hereinafter mentioned. When thus substantially constructed its operation vand effect is as follows: Ice being placed in the ice box C, (or if ice water is at once desired, water is also placed therein) the lids D and E are shut down or closed. The register J in the ceiling K being open, air from the outside, passes through the holes in the outer casing asis seen in Fig. 2 by the upper horizontal arrows. Hence the air passes in the direction of the upper curved arrows Fig. 2, through the holes in the inner top I, I, opening into the hollow chamber H, H. Thence encircling the ice box through said hollow chamber the air passes down through the holes in the ceiling K under the ice box, at the register J as seen by the lower curved arrows in Fig. 2 and thence down through the interior A to the vent-holes L, in the bottom of the refrigerator and thence through to the open air as seen by the lower straight arrow. Water resulting from the lmelting of the ice in the ice chamber C passes down through the pipe F attached to the bottom of the ice boX, and is drawn ofil as occasion may require at the cock G.

Among the advantages contemplated by these improvements in the mode of constructing refrigerators Vandother Yf rigoric apparatus, may be specified particularly-Am irst, the more perfect ventilation of the interior with cold dry air substantially in the manner above described, and second the various useful results produced by the arrangement of the ice boX C and its appurtenances. Y

It is a well known natural law, that frigoriiic iniiuences descend, and do not ascend, so that. the ice in all cases should be placed at or near the top. Most of the refrigerators and other cooling apparatus in common use are so constructed, as to require the ice to be placed on or near the bottom, a mode not only productive of trouble inconvenience uncleanlin'ess and decay but less productive of frigoriiic results.

It is also well known that a confined unventilated interior produces among other unfavorable result-s a blending .of smell and taste of the various articles placed therein, and that inadequate provision is made in this behalf in the apparatus in ordinary use.

It is also well known that the water resulting from the melting of the ice in the ordinary apparatus, is not only a source of uncleanliness and trouble, but is turned to no useful account, suffered to run to waste and wholly, lost.

In my improved apparatus, however the atmospheric air before it is allowed to pass into the interior, is iirst made to pass into the hollow chamber H, H, and into contact with the cold sides and bottom of the ice box whereby its caloric is abstracted and it thus becomes chilled and cold, its natural moisture condensed, 'and thus rendered itto enter the interior where it distributes itself in its passage downward to the air holes in the bottom (at L L) among the articles placed therein, keeping them cold, and fresh and eifectually preventing a blending of smell and taste. The cold air however instead of being allowed to pass directly down through the interior at the register J, as hereinbefore described may be made to pass down through a hollow side chamber or tubes communicating with the hollow chamber H H to nearly the bottom thence into the interior and thence out of vent holes at the opposite side (which may be fitted with a register) placed higher or lower, as may be deemed best. I expressly disclaim any mode of ventilation whereby the air is first made to come into immediate contact with the ice itself, before it enters the interior.

rlhe watervresulting from the melting of the ice instead of running to waste is preserved in the iceboX, which thus becomes a water cooler for use, as well for"d`rinking and other purposes as for a frigorific body for the purpose of producing cold. I/Vhel` wine or water coolers for 'family or oice y use. Even when all the ice is melted the coldi water contained in the ice boX is itself a valuable frigoriiic body, useful for producing cold in the interior. Y

The effect of placingIt-he ice chamber or water cooler in the upper part of the apparatus and surrounding it with an outerhollow chamber accessible to atmospheric air, as hereinbefore described, is to generate by its natural action currents of cold air, which are made to pass through the interior, and out at the vent holes in the bottom, for the more perfect ventilation of the same.

Various modifications of the mode of structure and details of arrangement of this apparatus, might be suggested without materially affecting its essential character.

For family use, the refrigerators may be made of the usual or any desired size. F or the use of oiiices they may be made smaller, of ornamental patterns, the ice boXes or chambers, being made of various sizes-as ice water may be required. When used for office purposes, chiefly, as water coolers, they possess the additional and novel feature ofa well ventilated refrigerating chamber, useful for wine or other articles.

By the use of the register aiiiXed to the ceiling of the interior,'the apparatus becomes a close or ventilated refrigerator at pleasure.

I/Vhat I claim therefore as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent iss l. The application and employment of a vessel or chamber, substantially such as here' inbefore described for containing both the ice and water together serving the double purpose of a water cooler and frigorific body in combination with the ordinary refrigerating box chamber, or other insulated nonconducting cooling apparatus, the whole operating in the manner substantially and for the uses and purposes hereinbefore mentioned.

2. I also claim the mode of Ventilation hereinbefore described, by compelling the outer or atmospheric air before entering the interior, to come into mediate contact with the ice or other frigorific body, operating in the manner substantially as and for the uses and purposes hereinbefore mentioned.

3. I also claim the above described mode of Ventilating in combination with the cooler and refrigerating chamber as described.

WM. MOOTRY.

In presence of- THos. PALMER, JAMES E. LUCK. 

